Changing Health Insurance Plans? A List of Things to Consider

For millions of Americans, the thought of changing health insurance plans is one that fills them with dread. It is believed to be a complicated process, and if you get it wrong, you may end up either uninsured or paying way more than you should on your new premiums. Fortunately, Health Plan One offers extensive resources and expert advice to guide you through the maze of options. As you think through making a change, either through necessity or desire, here are a few things to consider.

Double Coverage

While you need to be insured, sometimes it is possible to go overboard. For example, a couple may have the chance to be covered by one another’s insurance, but double coverage causes you to pay two premiums and can sometimes lead to confusion when it comes to who should be paying out. As some employers pay you not to use your insurance, you could be smart and end up receiving money for using your spouse’s insurance!

Changing Needs

Perhaps you have found a new health insurance plan that seems to provide the same level of coverage as your last insurer for less money. Yet there is also a chance that your needs of those of your family have changed, so what constituted adequate coverage before may now not be enough. Employers are also shifting more costs to employees, so bear this in mind if you are thinking of renewing a workplace insurance policy. The health care landscape outside of your family has also seen dramatic changes, so consult with an industry expert at Health Plan One to find a solution that best fits your current reality.

New Policy Exclusions

There will be certain exclusions no matter what health insurance plan you choose, and as they can be different from one insurer to the next, you have to be wary when switching health insurance. Aside from pre-existing conditions, other exclusions you need to watch out for include general outpatient medical services and alternative medicine, or treatments such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). You may be shocked to find exclusions on your new policy that didn’t exist on the old one. An experienced consultant can identify those pitfalls and help you sift out the ones that won’t fit for you.

Waiting Periods

When you have had a health insurance plan for a period of time, you may have taken your coverage and benefits for granted. This can change dramatically once you switch insurers or policies. For example, you need to look out for the waiting periods at the start of some policies when you will not receive benefits. Our team of licensed advisors can help you pick the right plans and manage your upcoming transition.

Switching From Group to Family Health Insurance

With employer-sponsored coverage, you’re used to having:

A choice of plans.

Some of the monthly premium paid.

A convenient method of payment.

Your plan documents given to you.

Access to expert advice.

With an individual or family plan, there are likely more choices than you know what to do with, and you’ll be in control of your monthly premium. This can seem like a big transition, but with Health Plan One, you have the help you need to navigate the vast array of options, you have the powerful search capability to get just what you need and not what you don’t, and the price tag is likely to look a lot more attractive.

Take advantage of the expert resources available to you at Health Plan One and have your “free look” period to fall back on, which should be 14 days. During this time, if you spot anything that doesn’t suit you, contact the insurer immediately and give them a notice of cancellation without losing the money invested in your first premium.